Improvement in machines for packing



UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

II. B. GILL, OF OGDEN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ERASTUS TARBOX, OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR PACKING APPLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,199, dated May 6, 1862.

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, H. B. GILL, of Ogden, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Pressing in the Heads of Fruit- Barrels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specilication, in which lfigure l is a perspective view showing the press as applied to the barrel. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a barrel of fruit, the press being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation' of the press shown separately, the head of the screw being broken away.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

As represented in the drawings, my improved press consists of a cross-head, A, hav ing at each end thereof a pair of flexible clamps, B B, provided at the bottom with hooks c c, of suitable size and form, to hook over the chine at the bottom of the barrel. The cross-head forms, also, the nut of the screw D, which passes through the center thereof, its head being provided with a lever, F, which passes through a hole provided for that purpose for the convenience of turning the screw. A follower, E, is attached to the screw in such a manner that it does not revolve with the screw, but remains stationary upon the head of the barrel.

The operation of my press is very simple and will be readily understood. The barrel having been iilled with fruit, which is heaped above the top in order to supply the space left by compressing those below when the head is laid on, the clamps B of the press are then spread far enough apart at the bottom to ypass over the barrel, when they immediately adjust themselves thereto by their flexibility on being released, the hooks connecting' with the chines the moment they are pressed down sufficiently far. The head is then placed under the follower E and adjusted to the barrel so as to enter the croze, when thc screw is turned so as to gradually impact the fruit until the head enters its place and is secured.

The essential novelty of my invention lies in the flexibility of the clamps B B. I am aware that the use of the screw and follower is common for pressing in the heads of barrels and boxes, and that in so doing it has been necessary to connect the parts with the chine or bottom of the barrel or box. This has been effected by rods or links with hooks hanging loosely at the lower ends thereof, and these hooks required to be adjusted to the chine or part with which they are to be connected when they are applied, requiring the assistance of v two persons, one to turn the screw and one to connect the hooks at the proper moment. My invention obviates all this, for the clamps have only to be placed over the barrel, when by their elasticity the hooks will at once spring into connection with the chine, and remain there without slipping olf, held by the same force which placed them there. clamps press the sides of the barrel so firmly as to aid materially in keeping the hoops and staves in place, and thereby prevent the barrel from bursting during the operation. One person can perform all the labor with ease, and he need not even stoop to adjust the lower or hook portion of the clamps, as all that is required is, by an adroit movement, to throw the implement over the top of the barrel and turn it in such. a manner that a slight downward pressure will cause the hooks to spread far enough to connect with the chine.

The clamps may be made of strap-iron of suitable size and elasticity, or of flexible wood with metal hooks attached at the bottom. I prefer to make them of metal entire, however, as it insures greater strength and symmetry.

The apparatus is very simple and convenient for use and applicable to many other purposes than that mentioned.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the spring hookclamps B B with the cross-head A, screw D, and follower E, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

H. B. GILL. lVitnesses:

J. FRASER, S. J. ALLIs.

The 

